Alumni News

Category: Memories and Nostalgia

Winter, Spring, and Everything In Between

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We are at the mid-point of the semester, where the weather can’t decide if it’s winter or spring. Sunny days of melting snow lead into March snowstorms, so we must be ready for all contingencies. But that doesn’t stop the fun! This photo from March 8, 1914, from the Archives’ Brockway Photograph Collection, shows a family who took the time to snowshoe and have a snowy picnic with their dog on one of those unpredictable spring-or-winter days.

As you reflect on your favorite winter and spring outdoor activities from your time as a Husky, we’d love to hear your stories in the comments! And as campus transitions into a new season, consider helping today’s students make their own unforgettable memories. Michigan Tech’s 24-hour giving challenge, Give Back to the Pack, is coming up on April 8-9—join us in supporting the next generation of Huskies!

A family with their dog enjoys a picnic in the snow after snowshoeing on March 8, 1914.

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).

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Navigating Campus Winters

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While snow is a welcome sight for those who enjoy outdoor sports and recreation, not all winter activities are fun and games. Some require dedication and hard work—like snow removal! Thankfully, we have tools to help: the Yooper scoop, steel shovels, and for the really big jobs, heavy equipment.

Our flashback image takes us back to the winter of 1950, when the area’s first mechanical snowblower was deployed. Ernest C. Schmidt of Oskar proudly poses with the machine on Liminga Road, taking a break from clearing snow for the Houghton County Road Commission.

Today, modern plows and high-powered snowblowers keep our roads and sidewalks clear. But we’d love to hear—how did you navigate campus through the snow when you were a student? Let us know in the comments!

Ernest C. Schmidt of Oskar with the first Snow Blower in the winter of 1950–51.

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).

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Celebrate Alumni Reunion 2025

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Alumni Reunion 2025 will be from July 31–August 2, and we look forward to celebrating with all alumni and friends, especially those from our honored classes: 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2015. While we eagerly wait for the weekend to arrive, we encourage alumni from our honored classes and anyone attending to share their excitement and memories from wherever they are! What are you most looking forward to during Reunion Weekend? What is your favorite memory from your time as a student? Who are you looking forward to reconnecting with? Do you recognize yourself, or any friends in the photos? Share in the comments!

If you have photos that you would like to share from your time on campus, please email them to alumni@mtu.edu. We will use them in future Reunion promotions and include them in the slideshow that plays during the weekend.

Do you have a recent milestone you would like to share with the Michigan Tech alumni community? Check out Class Notes—your go-to source for reading about the latest happenings in the lives of fellow alumni, including new jobs, promotions, retirements, news coverage, awards, government appointments, and weddings… and share your own!

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Memories Aglow in Ice and Snow

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As we prepare for Winter Carnival, we’re excited to share a preview of the upcoming University Archives display that will be featured during the Alumni Social + Winter Carnival Exhibit on Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, hosted by Michigan Tech’s Office of Alumni Engagement, with staff from the University Archives and current student members of the Blue Key Honor Society, will feature a special limited-time exhibit.

Titled Memories Aglow in Ice and Snow, this special exhibit will showcase vintage photos, yearbooks, memorabilia, and pictorials—especially those keepsakes that celebrate the iconic snow statues and outdoor fun from Winter Carnivals gone by.

The image below comes from the Michigan Tech Centennial book—a sneak peek of the upcoming exhibit and a wonderful example of snowy craftsmanship that we think Goldilocks would agree is just right. Do you recognize the year this statue was created, or have a favorite Winter Carnival memory to share? Let us know in the comments!

Winter Carnival statues depicting scene of Goldilocks and the Three Bears

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).

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Where Legends Pass: Stories from Under the Bridge

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Few town and gown landmarks are more iconic in the Copper Country than the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. Opened to traffic in 1959, the bridge spans over the Keweenaw Waterway connecting the cities of Hancock and Houghton. Thanks to the nearly 100-foot clearance below when fully raised, the lift bridge has welcomed a diverse spectrum of marine traffic, from paddle boarders and kayaks to salt boats, cruise ships, and freighters.

This image from November 1965 shows the Henry Steinbrenner (2), formerly known as the Verona, passing underneath. If you have traveled under the bridge or have a favorite vessel that did, share your story in the comments!

Henry Steinbrenner (1), formerly known as the Verona, passing under the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in November 1965. Image courtesy of the Ben Chynoweth Collection held by the Michigan Tech Archives.
Henry Steinbrenner (2), formerly known as the Verona, passing under the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in November 1965. Image courtesy of the Ben Chynoweth Collection held by the Michigan Tech Archives.

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).

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Share Your Writing Center Memories!

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From late-night study sessions to finishing that final paper, we all remember when a little extra help made all the difference. For many Tech students over the past 50 years, that help came from the Michigan Tech Writing Center.

Founded in 1975 as the Language Skills Lab, the Writing Center has evolved in various ways since opening. Currently located in 107 Walker, the Writing Center is host to Michigan Tech’s Student Newspaper The Lode and the Creative Writing Club. It serves hundreds of visitors each year and employs student coaches from 13 different majors.

Nancy Grimm, Professor Emerita and former Writing Center director, played a key role in raising the center to national recognition. Reflecting on its mission, she once said, “Our goal has always been to help students find their voice and gain confidence in their writing.”

Today, we’re inviting alumni to share their Writing Center experiences. Did you have a favorite coach or a memorable experience that shaped your writing journey? We’d love to hear your stories!

Please share your memories in the comments below or email the Writing Center at writingcenter@mtu.edu.

Humanities Professor Emerita Nancy Grimm meets with one of her students in April 1994.
Nancy Grimm meets with one of her students in April 1994

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Celebrating 10 Years of the Husky Statue

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Celebrate the 10th birthday of the Husky statue from wherever you are. Share a comment and tell us why you chose to purchase a paver and what Michigan Tech means to you.

Located across from the J. R. Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, a larger-than-life, nine-foot-tall bronze Husky statue stands proudly on a Baraga County boulder, surrounded by benches, planters, and paver stones. The great campus tradition was unveiled on October 13, 2014, with nearly 1,000 people in attendance including the Pep Band, Husky student-athletes, faculty, staff, and community members.

The statue at the center of Husky Plaza has been a visible and lasting tribute to the spirit of Michigan Tech. Over the past 10 years, the Husky statue has served as a location for events, a welcome spot for campus guests, a backdrop for photos, and a meeting spot between friends. The tradition will continue for many years to come. The dedication of the John Rovano Plaza in October 2013 launched the Alumni Way project, which has continued to grow and span across campus with the Husky statue, the Clock Tower (donated by the William (Bill) ’69 and Ilene Bernard Jr. Family), and the Alumni Gateway Arch which was made possible through a lead gift from Mike Trewhella ’78.

The statue was made possible by a gift from the late Dan Lorenzetti and wife Joan Lorenzetti and their family. Additional contributions to the Husky Plaza came from Roland Huhtala ’74 and Pete ’53 and Shirley Meyers.

More than 1,000 alumni and friends left their mark on Michigan Tech with personalized, engraved stones that encircle Husky Plaza. If you purchased a paver, we invite you to leave a comment sharing what made you decide to purchase a paver and what Michigan Tech means to you.

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Fall Flashback: A Campus View from 1962

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Just like the seasons, Michigan Tech’s campus has a way of evolving over time. As enrollment, technology, and campus needs shift, so does the architecture that makes campus function. This fall image from 1962, found in the Archives postcard collection, shows a view that’s quite different from what you’d see today.

Can you name this building and spot the differences between 1962 and 2024? We’d love to hear your thoughts—let us know in the comments!

A campus view from 1962
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Reminiscing on K-Day Traditions

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With Reunion behind us and summer quickly fading, classes will soon begin and K-Day is just around the corner.

Today’s image takes us back to K-Day 2009, when the event was still held at McLain State Park. Whether it was the excitement of outdoor activities, the chance to meet new friends, or simply enjoying the beautiful surroundings, K-Day is a cherished tradition that has always been a fantastic way to kick off the semester and build community among students.

As we look forward to this year’s K-Day on September 6, we’re reminded of how K-Day has left lasting impressions on many of us. What were your favorite K-Day moments? Do you have any advice for incoming first-year students? Share your stories in the comments!

K-Day 2009 at McLain State Park
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Alumni Reunion 2024: Honored Class Year Slideshow

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Last weekend, Michigan Tech celebrated Alumni Reunion 2024, bringing together graduates from a variety of decades, including our honored class years: 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2014. The following photos were displayed in a slideshow at various events throughout the weekend. We invite you to explore the slideshow below and relive the special moments that have shaped our Michigan Tech community.

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